Many people want to bring great things back with them from their travels from around the world. Good memories, culture, tokens, momentous, and more. However, no one wants to ever bring a
bed bug home with them. Even just one bug could how catastrophic consequences form you, your home, and your family. Luckily, this is something that can be avoided by applying the SLEEP theory when traveling.
SURVEY
The first and only S in the SLEEP theory stands for a survey. It simply means to survey your hotel or new living quarters for signs of a
bed bug infestation. However, this is not just a quick once over or visual inspection. Be sure to keep your nostrils open for sweet smells because large infestations are known to smell like soda pop syrup.
LIFT And LOOK
The L in the theory is so important that it has two meanings. And these two would be to lift and look. This means that you don’t want to just perform a visual inspection of the room. You want to make sure that you are getting in there and lifting sheets, checking behind the drapes, under the furniture, and just about anywhere
bed bugs will hide. Go as far as to look behind baseboards to greater reduce the chances of bringing home an infestation.
ELEVATE
The first E in the theory truly is genius when you sit down and think about it. It means to not just make yourself at home in your room. Bed bugs aren’t biased when it comes to means and money. They’ll inhibit anyone, anywhere. Regardless of what your accommodations cost, you could still suffer from an infestation. Recent infestations have been reported in some of the highest-priced rooms in the world. That being said, the first E represents elevate and it means to elevate your luggage.
Bed bugs are excellent travelers and hitchhikers with equal smarts and wits. However, if they can’t get to your belongings they can’t hitch a ride. Keep everything up on the shelves where they can’t reach them.
EXAMINE
The second E in the theory represents examine and it’s just as smart as the first E. It is the part of the equation where you will examine your belongings before repacking them. Don’t just blindly assume that you are home-free because you’ve applied this theory. There is still a chance that you could suffer an infestation. That won’t be the case, however, if you take the time to examine your belongings before packing them. Make sure you are looking for bed bug feces, exoskeletons, and anything that could mean bed bugs among your belongings.
PLACE
The last letter in the entire theory ties the whole thing together rather nicely. It represents placement and it simply means to place your belongings in the drier before unpacking them back into your drawers. There is a good chance that they’ll likely be dirty so you are going to have to wash them anyway. That aside, it is a well-known scientific fact that
bed bugs cannot handle the
heat. At 135 degrees F to 145 degrees F
bed bugs will dry out and die. Drying your belongings on the highest heat setting for 90 minutes should suffice.
